c 


The  Miami  Bulletin  ^ 


(Alumni  Edition) 


[Published  monthly  by  Miami  University  and  entered  at  the  Post  Office  at  Oxford, 
Ohio,  as  Second  Class  Mail  Matter,] 


SERIES  V 


OCTOBER.  1906 


NUMBER  8 


MIAMI  IN  THE  CIVIL  WAR 


Alumni  Address  Delivered  June  13,  1906,  by  Dr.  Stephen  Cooper 


Ayres,  of  the  Class  of  ’61 


Mr.  Chairman,  Members  of  the  Alumni  Association, 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen: — 

When  you  did  me  the  honor  to  elect  me  to  deliver  the  an- 
nual address  on  this  occasion,  I naturally  cast  about  for  some- 
thing- to  say.  Those  who  graduated  more  than  forty  years 
ag-o  naturally  become  reminiscent,  and  I am  not  an  exception 
to  the  rule;  in  fact,  I always  become  reminiscent  whenever  I 
return  to  Oxford.  I cannot  help  it.  I look  around  and  see 
but  few  of  those  who  were  in  colleg-e  in  my  time.  New 
faces,  new  teachers,  new  buildings,  a new  order  of  things 
generally,  nothing  is  natural  but  the  old  college  campus,  with 
its  fine  old  forest  trees. 

There  they  stand  as  they  did  more  than  forty  years  ago, 
but  stronger  and  more  vigorous  than  they  were  when  we  were 
boys,  and  we,  who  enjoyed  their  grateful  shade  then,  are  now 
in  the  sear  and  yellow  leaf.  College  life  is  very  much  the 
same  everywhere,  but  that  ante-bellum  period,  covering  four 
years  previous  to  1861,  was  different  from  that  which  any  other 
students  ever  experienced  since  the  foundation  of  our  govern- 
ment. The  air  was  filled  with  vague  rumors  of  impending 
trouble  between  the  North  and  the  South.  We  could  not 
comprehend  or  fathom  them,  we  only  listened  and  waited  for 
developments.  The  young  men  who  were  in  college  during 
the  two  or  three  years  preceding  the  outbreak  of  the  great 
Civil  War  in  1861,  had  an  experience  which  can  never  be  re- 
peated. There  were  questions  of  the  most  vital  importance  to 
our  country  under  discussion,  and  we  naturally  took  a lively 


interest  in  them.  Slavery  existed  over  the  entire  Southern 
States,  and  the  politicians  were  trying*  to  prepare  the  way  to 
extend  it  over  the  broad  West,  which  was  then  rapidly  filling- 
up  with  settlers.  The  new  States  were  peopled  by  men  who 
differed  widely  on  this  point,  and  the  irrepressible  conflict  over 
the  extension  of  slavery  was  imminent.  The  politicians  of 
the  South  saw  that  if  the  new  States  which  were  likely  to  be 
formed,  were  to  be  free,  they  would  in  time  lose  the  power 
which  they  held.  Colleg-e  boys  could  not  help  knowing-  and 
feeling-  something  of  this  mighty  question  of  slavery  which 
was  in  the  air.  We  had  heard  our  parents  talk  about  it  from 
our  earliest  recollection,  and  now  it  was  assuming  threaten- 
ing proportions.  It  was  this  atmosphere  in  which  we  lived  and 
grew,  an  atmosphere  which  was  dimmed  by  a cloud  on  the 
horizon,  of  something  in  the  future,  but  what,  no  one  could 
tell.  Still  our  college  life  was  pleasant  and  agreeable.  That 
was  before  the  days  of  foot  ball  and  base  ball  and  those  ath- 
letic games  which  at  certain  seasons  of  the  year,  absorb  so 
much  attention  now.  We  had  our  gymnasium  and  our  liter- 
ary societies,  our  Chapel  speeches,  and  our  Junior  orations 
and  many  things  to  occupy  our  time  and  interest.  Two  hun- 
dred pounders  were  not  at  a premium  then  as  they  are  now  to 
buck  the  line.  Our  contests  were  rather  intellectual  than 
physical,  and  yet  we  thought  we  had  a good  time.  In  those 
days  a man  was  taught  to  declaim  and  write  and  debate,  to 
think  on  his  feet  and  repel  the  thrusts  of  his  opponent.  In 
all  this  there  has  been  a decadence,  and  from  the  standpoint 
of  an  old  grad,  it  is  to  the  disadvantage  of  the  college  boy 
of  today. 

Speaking  of  the  influence  of  literary  societies,  Rev.  Dr. 
H.  M.  MacCracken,  in  the  Diamond  Anniversary  Volume,  says, 
“No  Professor  was  so  valuable  to  many  a student  as  was  his 
literary  society.  No  class  room  was  so  attractive  as  his  Liter- 
ary Hall.  No  wit  or  humor  more  talked  of  than  that  which 
flashed  out  during  the  attritions  of  society  debates.  No  po- 
sition was  so  much  sought  as  an  appointment  to  be  one  of  the 
four  speakers  at  the  annual  exhibition.  This  explains  largely 
why  Miami  in  those  days  trained  and  commissioned  so  many 
men  for  service  in  the  political  field.  The  subjects  that 
engaged  the  brightest  minds,  were  politico-moral  questions. 


Time  and  encouragement  were  afforded  by  the  Academic  con- 
dition at  Oxford  for  their  consideration.  In  comparison  with 
these  questions,  natural  science,  literature,  art,  pedagogy, 
seemed  dull  and  distant.” 

Boys  scarcely  out  of  their  ’teens,  discussed  the  most  pro- 
found questions  of  politics  and  religion,  the  rights  and  wrongs 
of  people,  states  and  governments.  We  certainly  thought  we 
had  a right  to  discuss,  and  discuss  we  did  the  questions  then 
uppermost  in  the  minds  of  the  people.  From  ’59  to  ’61,  we 
had  quite  a number  of  men  from  the  South;  they  were  splen- 
did fellows  and  fraternized  on  the  most  friendly  terms  with 
the  men  of  the  North.  Because  they  were  from  the  slave 
states,  or  because  their  fathers  were  slave  owners  made  no 
difference. 

Among  the  great  questions  which  we  talked  about  were 
slavery  and  secession.  There  was  much  conjecture  as  to 
secession,  and  the  burning  question  was,  what  was  the  South 
going  to  do?  We  did  not  fully  comprehend  the  meaning  of 
the  Missouri  Compromise  or  the  other  questions  relating  to 
slavery,  which  were  prominent.  The  mutterings  of  the  storm 
which  was  to  break  upon  us  in  ’61,  were  heard  and  we  listened 
to  know  what  it  all  meant.  Little  did  we  realize  how  much 
these  premonitions  of  the  coming  conflict  meant  to  all  of  us. 
Little  did  we  realize  that  we  would  stand  face  to  face  with 
our  Southern  college  friends  in  mortal  combat.  I well  re- 
member that  the  question  of  coercion  was  warmly  discussed. 
If  the  South  should  attempt  to  go  out  of  the  union,  would 
the  government  coerce  them  or  would  it  allow  them  to  break 
the  country  into  two  sections? 

The  first  event  to  startle  us  was  the  John  Brown  raid 
into  Virginia.  It  was  the  work  of  a wild  fanatic  and  was 
not  endorsed  by  anyone  that  I know  of.  He  received  the 
punishment  he  deserved,  but  the  incident  left  a sore  spot. 

The  firing  on  Ft.  Sumter  produced  a profound  sensation. 
Lectures  and  lessons  were  forgotten,  the  excitement  was  in- 
tense, and  we  at  once  with  the  greatest  enthusiasm,  decided 
to  stand  by  the  Government,  and  take  our  chances  in  the  ar- 
bitrament of  war.  Without  hesitation  we  enlisted  and  formed 
a company  of  College  and  village  boys.  Orzo  Dodds  of  the 
Seniors  was  elected  Captain  of  the  University  Rifles,  as  we 


called  ourselves,  and  he  began  to  drill  us  in  the  manual  of 
arms.  I remember  our  drilling  on  the  Campus  and  up  and 
down  the  village  streets. 

The  parting  from  Oxford,  few  of  us  I am  sure  will  ever 
forget.  We  were  drawn  up  in  line  on  the  west  side  of  the 
Campus.  There  the  ladies  of  Oxford  presented  us  with  our 
Company  colors,  and  also  gave  each  one  a copy  of  the  New 
Testament.  We  went  to  the  station,  escorted  by  hundreds  of 
the  citizens,  and  amid  cheers  and  enthusiasm,  started  for  Co- 
lumbus. We  arrived  there  the  next  morning  about  three 
o’clock.  As  we  passed  through  the  gates  of  Camp  Jackson,  I 
heard  some  wretch  say  as  he  looked  at  the  end  of  the  proces- 
sion, about  where  Palmer  Dunn  and  I and  some  of  the  short- 
ies were,  “Oh  pshaw,  they  are  too  small.” 

Our  first  experience  there  was  a novelty  in  every  sense  of 
the  word.  To  discard  books  for  guns  was  a big  jump.  To 
exchange  Mrs.  Hughes’  delightful  table  for  Uncle  Sam’s  ra- 
tions was  a great  come  down  to  some  of  us  at  least,  but  we 
enjoyed  it;  it  was  a picnic  then. 

Our  longest  camp  previous  to  entering  Virginia  was  at 
Zanesville.  Here  we  got  down  to  serious  work;  drilling  ev- 
ery day,  guard  mounting,  guard  duty,  the  manual  of  arms; 
everything  had  to  be  learned,  but  we  were  apt  students  and 
took  pride  in  our  work.  I recall  our  company  drill  with  big 
Bob  Adams  at  the  head  of  the  line.  I used  to  think  he  had  a 
spite  at  us  little  fellows  at  the  other  end.  With  giant  strides 
he  went  forward,  just  to  make  us  at  the  tail  end  of  the  line 
run  for  our  lives.  He  looked  like  a fighter,  with  his  broad 
shoulders  proportioned  to  his  height,  and  his  red  face  and 
red  hair,  and  he  proved  himself  to  be  one.  He  came  out  with 
a star  on  his  shoulder  straps. 

Our  company  became  Company  B,  20th  O.  V.  I.,  and  it 
gave  a good  account  of  itself  in  West  Virginia,  until  its  term 
of  service  expired.  Our  service  was  principally  doing  guard 
duty  on  the  B.  & O.  R.  R.  We  did  not  get  into  a fight,  but 
tried  to  one  day,  when  the  Confederates  were  retreating  after 
the  battles  of  Rich  Mountain  and  Carricks  Ford.  We  were 
at  Oakland,  Md.,  only  a few  miles  from  the  pike  on  which  they 
were  retreating.  It  has  always  seemed  to  us  that  if  the  rank- 
ing officer  of  our  troops  had  had  even  one  grain  of  sand  in 


his  composition,  we  would  have  met  the  enemy,  and  then  per- 
haps we  mig-ht  have  wished  ourselves  back  on  the  College 
Campus.  We  were  mustered  out  in  August,  having  served 
four  months.  After  our  muster  out,  the  boys  scattered  to 
their  homes,  but  the  majority  of  them  re-enlisted  and  served 
until  the  war  closed. 

But  our  first  volunteers  company  B,  20th  O.  V.  I.,  were 
not  the  only  soldiers  Miami  sent  out  to  the  war.  In  1862  the 
President  called  for  more  three  months  men  to  relieve 
the  veterans  then  on  duty  at  various  points,  so  that  the  sea- 
soned soldiers  could  go  to  the  front,  and  allow  the  short  term 
men  to  take  their  places.  Our  now  venerable  Prof.  R.  W. 
McFarland,  (and  I am  happy  that  he  is  still  with  us)  organ- 
ized a company  which  became  a part  of  the  86th  Regiment. 
Sixty-six  students  representing  five  different  states  went  with 
him  and  they  served  four  months  in  West  Virginia.  They 
were  known  as  the  Crack  Company,  and  drilled  better  and 
performed  more  satisfactory  service,  than  any  other  company 
in  the  regiment.  The  Professor  brought  all  his  boys  home, 
and  then  resumed  his  professional  duties.  In  the  next  year, 
1863,  the  President  issued  a call  for  six  months  men,  and  again 
Professor  McFarland  went  to  the  front  with  a company  about 
one-third  of  which  were  students  of  the  University.  He  was 
promoted  to  Lieutenant-Colonel  and  did  active  service  in 
checking  the  Morgan  Raid,  and  later  on  at  Cumberland  Gap, 
Tenn.  assisted  with  his  regiment  to  bring  about  the  surrender 
of  the  confederate  troops  at  that  point.  May  he  live  many  years 
to  enjoy  the  honors  he  earned  and  deserved,  the  only  surviving 
member  of  the  faculty  of  the  war  times. 

In  the  fall  of  1862,  when  Kirby  Smith  threatened  Cincin- 
nati, a call  was  made  for  volunteers  to  protect  the  border. 
The  response  from  Miami  was  prompt,  and  nearly  every  stu- 
dent enlisted.  A company  was  raised  in  Oxford,  composed  of 
college  students,  village  and  country  boys.  Mr.  Chas.  H.  Fisk 
was  elected  Captain.  The  regiments  raised  in  the  state  for 
this  service  were  called  Squirrel  Hunters,  probably  on  account 
of  the  dangerous  weapons  they  carried.  Their  arms  were 
collected  principally  from  the  farm  houses,  and  consisted  of 
single  and  double  barrel  shot  guns  and  fowling  pieces  of 
various  patterns. 


The  Oxford  Company  guarded  the  bridge  on  the  B.  & O. 
R.  R.  near  North  Bend,  Ind.,  until  the  raiders  were  safely  out 
of  this  state.  Charley  Fisk  did  not  have  an  opportunity  to 
show  his  Kentucky  valor  but  we  know  that  he  has  a big-  stock 
of  it. 

Thus  on  four  different  occasions  did  Old  Miami  send  her 
sons  out  to  battle  for  the  preservation  of  the  union.  All 
honor  to  her  for  her  loyalty! 

It  is  quite  impossible  to  get  an  accurate  estimate  of  the 
number  of  Miami  students  who  entered  the  service.  I am 
quite  sure  the  names  reported  in  the  Diamond  Anniversary  vol- 
ume underestimate  the  real  number. 

I have  tried  to  approximate  the  number  of  those  who 
wore  the  blue  and  the  gray,  and  it  is  as  follows:  Of  the  class 
of  ’58,  30  per  cent.;  ’59,  30  per  cent.;  ’60,  47  per  cent.;  ’61,  66 
per  cent.;  ’62,  28  per  cent.;  ’63,  42  per  cent.;  ’64,  32  per  cent. 

This  record  up  to  ’61  covers  only  those  who  took  their 
degrees.  Many  who  attended  Miami,  previous  to  ’61  and  who 
did  not  graduate,  enlisted,  and  so  did  some  who  would  have 
graduated  after  ’61. 

Major  Chamberlain,  in  his  sketch  of  the  University 
Rifles,  as  our  Company  was  called  in  the  Diamond  Anniver- 
sary volume  says,  “It  ^is  to  the  credit  of  the  morals  of  the 
University,  that  no  bitterness  was  engendered  between  the 
students  representing  the  warring  sections  of  the  country. 
When  the  flag  was  fired  on,  sides  were  promptly  taken,  and 
the  Southern  students  with  quiet  decorum  and  even  with  sad- 
ness, separated  from  their  classmates  as  became  gentlemen, 
and  departed  to  take  up  arms,  probably  to  fight  directly 
against  their  College  friends.  ” 

What  better  evidence  of  the  cordial  and  friendly  feeling 
existing  between  the  students  of  the  North  and  the  South, 
than  the  way  in  which  the  remains  of  that  brilliant  young 
man  Joel  Allen  Battle  were  treated,  after  that  terrible  conflict 
at  Shiloh?  During  the  first  day  the  Union  troops  were  driven 
back,  and  back — to  the  river,  and  there  they  rested  until 
morning.  On  the  second  day’s  fight,  the  Confederates  lost 
all  the  ground  they  had  gained  the  previous  day,  and  were 
driven  back  with  severe  loss.  This  was  why  Battle’s  body 
was  found  within  the  Union  lines  and  why  he  was  recognized 


hj  his  former  friends,  Adjt.  John  C.  Lewis,  Adjt.  Cliff. 
.Ross  and  Capt.  John  R.  Chamberlain.  They  made  a rude 
coffin  of  cracker  boxes,  in  which  they  placed  his  body  and 
then  affectionately  consigned  it  to  mother  earth.  Capt, 
Chamberlain,  in  writing  of  the  event  says,  “None  of  us  three 
who  knew  him  in  life  as  we  stood  and  saw  the  earth  covering 
his  dead  body,  had  any  other  thought,  than  that  we  were  lay- 
ing to  his  last  rest,  a gallant  soldier,  a sincere  man,  who 
thought  that  the  right  was  a thing  to  die  for,  and  that  he 
believed  with  all  his  ardent  soul,  that  the  cause  in  which  he 
fought  was  just  and  rig'hteous.” 

Other  colleges  all  over  the  land  were  quite  as  patriotic  as 
Miami,  and  sent  their  sons  out  to  fight  for  the  government. 
I can  only  mention  a few  of  them:  Marietta  College,  located 
as  it  is  on  the  border,  and  directly  across  the  river  from  Vir- 
ginia, quickly  felt  the  influence  of  the  mighty  struggle  which 
was  beginning-.  This  college  was  literally  founded  by  those 
men  who  fought  under  Washington  for  our  independence. 
A colony  of  them  came  west  as  early  as  1788,  and  established 
their  homes  in  the  then  wild  and  unsettled  frontier,  and 
founded  the  town  of  Marietta.  The  sons  of  these  men  have 
been  among  the  guardians  and  patrons  of  this  college  ever 
since.  Is  it  any  wonder  that  their  sons  promptly  responded 
to  the  call  to  arms  when  the  attempt  was  made  to  destroy  the 
government  their  forefathers  had  helped  to  found?  The  mil- 
itary record  of  this  institution  shows  the  stuff  its  boys  were 
were  made  of.  Thirty-five  per  cent,  of  its  Alumni,  who  were 
liable  to  military  service  during  the  war  period,  were  in  the 
service  in  addition  to  a large  number  of  undergraduates  and 
preparatory  students. 

Some  were  peculiarly  affected  from  their  geographical  lo- 
cation. In  Princeton  nearly  one-third  of  the  students  were 
from  the  South.  There  was  much  excitement  about  the 
giving  of  diplomas  to  the  graduating  class,  many  of  whom 
would  be  in  the  Confederate  army  before  commencement.  A 
curious  thing  was  seen  then  which  could  not  be  seen  in  any 
other  country.  The  boys  were  all  anxious  to  drill  and  learn 
the  manual  of  arms,  and  in  the  early  days  before  the  Southern 
boys  went  home,  they  actually  drilled  in  the  same  companies 
with  their  Northern  friends. 


After  the  firing:  on  Sumter,  Dr.  McLean  advised  the 
Southern  students  to  go  home.  He  assured  them  of  his  af- 
fection and  regret  at  parting-,  and  promised  that  they  would  be 
followed  by  fervent  prayers  throughout  the  troublous  times 
which  were  likely  to  follow.  In  their  autograph  books,  which 
were  popular  then,  the  Southern  boys  wrote  C.  S.  A.  after 
their  names.  One  says:  “My  country  is  in  arms  against 
yours,  but  there  will  always  be  friendship  among  classmates.” 
When  a hundred  or  more  of  them  left  for  their  homes,  they 
were  escorted  to  the  station  by  the  Northern  students,  and 
they  parted  the  best  of  friends. 

From  the  Harvard  Memorial  Biographies,  I find  that 
those  who  entered  the  army  embraced  about  one-sixth  of  the 
whole  number.  Those  were  the  picked  men  of  the  surround- 
ing country,  and  could  not  but  make  good  soldiers.  “They 
did  not  enter  the  army  to  make  it  a profession,  but  to  stay  as 
long  as  the  country  needed  their  services.  Although  they 
found  the  hardships  and  exposure  greater  than  they  antici- 
pated, yet  they  did  not  turn  back,  but  kept  resolutely  on,  de- 
termined to  see  it  out.  The  same  hand  that  could  load  the 
rifle  or  strike  with  the  sword  was  ready  when  the  war  was 
over  to  settle  down  to  peaceful  ways,  many  actually  returning 
to  their  studies  and  unfinished  courses.” 

In  the  South  the  colleges  were  practically  broken  up 
during  the  war.  The  students  and  professors  joined  army 
very  early  in  sufficient  numbers  to  close  the  various  institu- 
tions. The  financial  condition  was  such  that  they  could  not 
exist.  The  age  of  enlistment  was  lowered  to  sixteen,  so  that 
nearly  all  of  the  students  were  liable  to  service.  These  col- 
lege boys  of  the  South  gave  a good  report  of  themselves  as 
soldiers,  and  showed  that  the  blood  of  the  colonial  fathers, 
who  fought  for  our  independence,  was  still  alive  in  their  veins. 

I am  quite  sure  that  most  of  you  have  never  heard  of  the 
battle  of  Newmarket,  Va.,  which  was  fought  on  the  15th  of 
May,  1864.  The  opposing  Generals  were  Gen.  Sigel  on  the 
Union  side,  and  Gen.  John  C.  Breckenridge  on  the  Confeder- 
ate side.  The  Confederates  were  hard  pressed  for  men,  and 
were  calling  out  their  reserves.  Under  the  State  laws,  boys 
of  sixteen  were  held  a part  of  the  reserves  and  liable  to  be 
called  out  in  an  emergency.  This  is  why  the  Cadets  of  the 


Virginia  Military  Institute  happened  to  take  part  in  this 
battle.  They  were  ordered  to  the  front,  under  command  of 
one  of  their  Professors,  Col.  Ship.  It  was  the  intention  of 
the  commanding  officer  to  put  them  in  the  reserve  on  account  of 
their  youth,  and  use  them  only  should  he  need  them.  Two 
hundred  and  twenty-five  of  these  boys,  from  sixteen  to  eight- 
een years  of  age,  responded  and  were  placed  in  line.  They 
were  splendid  specimens  of  young  manhood,  and  full  of  en- 
thusiasm and  anxious  to  do  credit  to  their  institution.  A 
battle  is  not  always  fought  out  as  it  is  planned;  many  things 
may  occur  to  modify  the  movements  of  troops  which  could  not 
be  anticipated,  and  so  it  was  with  these  brave  cadets.  By 
one  of  the  sudden  changes  of  position,  these  boys  were 
brought  into  the  thickest  and  hottest  part  of  the  fight,  and 
eight  were  killed  and  forty-six  were  wounded,  in  a charge 
which  tried  the  courage  of  even  the  veterans. 

A writer  on  that  battle  says:  “It  was  in  the  second  ad- 
vance of  the  rebel  line  that  the  Lexington  Cadets  suffered  so 
much.  In  advance  of  the  main  line,  they  came  dashing  up 
to  the  very  muzzles  of  our  guns,  their  impetus  carrying  them 
in  many  instances  over  and  beyond  us.” 

One  of  our  Southern  boys  from  just  across  the  border, 
recalls  in  a letter  the  22d  February  1861.  It  was  our  custom 
then  to  have  speeches  in  the  Chapel,  and  the  way  the  Ameri- 
can eagle  screamed  and  flapped  his  wings  on  such  occasions 
was  something  ever  to  be  remembered.  On  this  particular 
occasion,  he  was  one  of  the  speakers.  Although  one  of  the 
youngest,  he  had  a silvery  tongue.  His  eloquence  charmed 
us  all  and  we  listened  to  the  patriotic  words  which  flowed 
from  his  lips.  His  earnestness  and  sincerity  could  not  be 
doubted,  his  heart  was  full  of  patriotism,  as  he  referred  to 
the  great  speech  of  Webster,  in  which  he  prayed  that  the  veil 
might  never  be  lifted  that  would  disclose  States,  “dissevered, 
discordant,  belligerent.”  “Never  did  youthful  heart  beat 
with  warmer  love  for  flag  and  country;”  these  are  his  words 
to  me.  But  what  a change  in  a few  weeks  after  that  speech 
was  made.  Sumter  was  fired  on,  and  he  took  the  first  train 
for  his  home,  and  promptly  entered  the  lists  to  fight  against 
the  country,  he  so  warmly  upheld  on  the  22d  February.  This 
one  act  shows  what  influenced  many  to  go  into  the  Confeder- 


ate  Army.  They  felt  that  they  must  go  as  the  South  went, 
whether  it  was  right  or  wrong.  That  feeling  was  a danger 
which  menaced  the  country,  until  the  cause  of  it — slavery — 
was  wiped  out  of  existence.  Thank  God,  no  such  feeling  can 
ever  arise  again.  His  experience  in  the  Confederate  Army 
was  not  happy;  how  could  it  be  otherwise,  when  his  heart 
was  really  divided?  He  says,  “My  relation  to  the  whole  con- 
flict was  a peculiar  one;  for  me  personally  it  was  a period  of 
trial,  humiliation  and  chastening.”  Now  that  it  is  all  over 
he  says,  “The  destruction  of  the  Union  would  have  been  deep- 
ly hurtful  to  the  best  interests  of  mankind.  The  Lord  be 
praised  that  we  are  one  people  more  perfectly  than  ever  before. 
Here  in  the  South-land,  I find  an  intensely  National  sentiment 
coexisting  with  indescribable  tenderness  for  the  ‘Lost  Cause.’ 
But  practically  it  is  to  them  a glorious  memory  that  reinforces 
every  lofty  sentiment  of  devotion  to  the  old  flag  and  to 
our  common  country.  The  loss  is  simply  that  of  the  stars 
that  have  faded  in  the  light  of  a perfect  day.  We  remember 
the  stars,  but  we  walk  and  work  in  the  light  of  the  sun.” 
The  sentiments  expressed  in  this  letter  as  to  the  loyalty  of 
the  South  at  the  present  time  to  the  stars  and  stripes,  cannot 
be  questioned.  The  late  war  with  Spain,  if  it  may  be  digni- 
fied with  that  title,  showed  how  quickly  the  Southern  men  re- 
sponded to  the  country’s  call.  They  vied  with  the  North  in 
their  haste  to  enter  the  service,  and  showed  the  soldierly 
qualities,  which  they  had  inherited  from  their  fathers. 
Should  a foreign  war  ever  menace  our  country,  no  section  will 
show  itself  more  active  in  defending  the  Union,  then  the 
men  of  the  South.  Many  an  ex-confederate  has  expressed 
himself  satisfied  with  the  present  condition.  It  is  inconceiv- 
able that  we  could  have  a divided  country,  and  yet  make  the 
progress  we  should  make  to  hold  our  position  in  the  great 
family  of  Nations.  United  we  stand,  divided  we  fall,  is 
true  of  us  in  a most  emphatic  manner.  The  tremendous 
progress  we  have  made  since  the  close  of  that  great  struggle 
is  due  to  the  fact  that  we  now  represent  a united  world-power, 
which  commands  the  respect  of  every  nation  on  which  the  sun 
shines.  The  most  friendly  feeling  toward  the  South  exists 
everywhere  in  the  North.  Commercial  relations  of  a recip- 
rocal nature  exist  between  the  sections  which  bind  them  to- 


gather  by  a common  financial  bond.  The  inter-dependence 
of  one  section  on  another  is  recognized,  and  so  harmony  ex- 
ists since  “Cotton  is  no  longer  king.”  Capital  of  the  North 
has  for  years  been  flowing  to  the  South,  and  has  enabled  that 
country  to  develop  its  latent  and  almost  inexhaustible  re- 
sources. More  is  yet  to  come,  when  the  labor  question  is 
satisfactorily  settled. 

The  Confederate  General,  J.  B.  Gordon,  in  speaking  of 
the  affection  of  the  South  for  the  graves  of  her  sons,  says, 
“But  does  that  fact  lessen  her  loyalty  to  the  proud  emblem 
of  a re-united  country?  Does  her  unparalled  defence  of 
the  now  dead  Confederacy,  argue  less  readiness  to  battle  for 
this  ever  living  Republic,  in  the  making  and  administering  of 
which  she  bore  so  conspicuous  a part.”  Again  he  said  that, 
“The  issues  which  divided  the  sections  were  born  when  the 
Republic  was  born,  and  were  forever  buried  in  an  ocean  of 
fraternal  blood.  This  Republic,  rising  from  a baptism  of 
blood  with  a National  life  more  robust,  a National  union  more 
complete  and  a National  influence  ever  widening,  shall  go  for- 
ever forward  in  its  benign  mission  to  humanity.” 

Can  we  estimate  the  influence  of  these  years  of  army  life 
on  a young  man  of  liberal  education,  and  inspired  with  patriot- 
ism? Everything  is  so  real,  so- earnest  and  so  impressive  at 
that  time.  It  certainly  must  modify  him  in  certain  ways,  and 
develop  him  in  new  and  unusual  lines.  A man  in  the  army 
is  a part  of  the  unit,  a very  small  part  of  a great  fighting 
machine.  He  is  taught  obedience,  strict  obedience  to  his  su- 
perior officers.  He  is  to  ask  no  questions  and  to  make  no  ob- 
jections to  any  order.  He  is  to  do  as  he  is  ordered,  no  matter 
what  the  consequences  may  be.  He  also  learns  what  comrade- 
ship means.  He  learns  that  he  must  be  able  to  depend  on 
those  on  the  right  and  left  of  him.  He  knows  that  they  must 
all  move  as  a unit.  The  same  applies  to  regiments  and  bri- 
gades; each  depends  on  the  other  to  do  its  duty  in  time  of 
danger.  But  a man  also  learns  to  command  as  well  as  to  obey. 
In  an  official  position,  an  officer  has  a right  to  expect  implicit 
obedience;  in  no  other  way  can  we  have  an  army  which  will 
be  efficient. 

Our  college  boys  filled  both  positions,  and  filled  them 
well.  The  Civil  war  developed  a military  spirit  which  was 


latent,  and  only  needed  a suitable  occasion  to  develop  it. 
Our  country  had  been  blessed  with  peace  so  long  we  did  not 
know  whether  we  had  any  fighting  material  in  us  or  not. 
The  story  of  the  Revolution  was  as  ancient  history,  and  few 
of  us  ever  saw  a man  who  was  actually  engaged  in  that  mem- 
orable struggle  with  England.  The  war  of  ’12  was  soon  over 
and  many  of  us  associate  it  only  with  the  battle  of  Lundy’s 
Lane  and  Perry’s  victory  on  Lake  Erie.  The  war  with  Mex- 
ico was  not  much  to  our  credit,  and  did  not  call  forth  any 
patriotic  spirit.  So  that  when  the  civil  war  broke  out,  two 
generations  had  passed  since  the  days  of  our  colonial  fore- 
fathers. We  read  of  the  Crimean  war,  but  it  was  between 
nations  with  whom  we  were  on  friendly  terms,  and  we  watched 
the  movements  with  interest,  wondering  whether  we  might 
ever  have  such  a conflict.  It  required  a great  question  like 
threatened  destruction  of  the  Union,  to  develop  the  military 
qualities  of  both  sides.  That  question  was  settled  once  and 
for  all.  The  Americans  can  fight  and  will  fight  when  it  is 
necessary,  but  the}r  prefer  peace.  We  have  no  great  standing 
Army  as  they  have  in  European  countries,  and  we  are  not 
burdened  by  an  enormous  tax  to  support  men  to  protect  our 
borders.  But  should  a just  cause  arise,  the  army  will  be 
promptly  forthcoming,  which  will  be  the  superior  in  intelli- 
gence to  any  in  the  world. 

The  armies  on  both  sides  which  fought  the  Civil  war, 
were  citizen  soldiers,  men  who  from  patriotic  sentiments 
enlisted  to  serve  their  country  until  the  war  ended.  Then 
they  quickly  and  willingly  dropped  into  their  former  peaceful 
ways  of  life.  Their  swords  were  broken  into  plowshares, 
and  their  army  life  was  to  them  only  a memory.  What  shall 
we  say  of  these  two  great  armies,  which  stood  face  to  face  for 
four  years?  For  general  intelligence,  for  initiative,  for 
bravery  in  every  kind  of  danger,  for  resourcefulness,  for 
hopefulness  under  gloomy  conditions,  where  can  you  find  in 
history  their  equal?  But  it  is  not  far  to  see  why  this  was  so. 
The  military  spirit  which  was  born  when  our  forefathers 
fought  for  their  liberties  and  their  rights  against  the  oppres- 
sion of  England,  has  descended  to  the  present  generation. 
The  additions  to  our  population  in  all  these  years  of  liberty- 
loving  emigrants  who  came  to  this  country  to  escape  oppres- 


>sion  abroad,  their  intermarriage  and  gradual  assimilation, 
make  a new  and  composite  people  who  possess  qualities  supe- 
rior to  any  nation  on  the  earth.  These  were  the  citizen  soldiers 
who  took  up  arms  against  each  other  in  1861. 

We  have  millions  of  citizen  soldiers,  who  will  respond 
when  the  necessity  arises.  The  Civil  war  was  a blessing  in 
disguise.  It  unified  the  greatest  and  most  intelligent  people 
in  the  world.  It  showed  that  our  fighting  qualities  were  equal 
to  the  best.  It  engendered  in  us  a respect  for  those  who  lost 
their  lives  in  battle,  which  we  remotely  felt  for  those  who  fell 
in  the  Revolutionary  struggle.  It  brought  that  question 
home  to  our  hearthstones  in  a very  impressive  manner.  Our 
friends,  our  relatives,  our  fathers  and  brothers  laid  down  their 
lives  to  save  the  country  from  destruction.  We  well  know 
that  both  sides  exhibited  equal  bravery,  and  all  over  this 
broad  land  there  are  vacant  chairs  which  are  mourned.  We 
have  learned  to  love  and  admire  these  brave  men.  We  have 
our  decoration  days  when  we  strew  their  graves  with  flowers 
so  that  the  memories  of  the  men  of  ’61-’65  will  ever  be  kept 
green.  The  spirit  of  ’61  still  lives  and  will  live  through  gen- 
erations. In  the  recent  deadly  struggle  between  Japan  and 
Russia,  we  learned  much  of  the  bravery  and  devotion  to 
their  country,  of  these  little  brown  men.  Patriotism  is  a 
part  of  their  religion  and  is  much  to  be  admired  as  a national 
trait.  We  have  also  learned  how  greatly  honored  are  those 
who  fall  in  battle.  Their  brave  deeds  are  held  in  grateful 
remembrance;  and  after  that  dreadful  war  was  over,  services 
in  commemoration  of  the  valiant  deeds  of  those  who  did  not 
return,  were  held  in  cities  and  towns,  all  over  those  far  islands. 

The  priest  who  officiates  calls  the  spirits  of  the  fallen 
from  far  and  near  to  come  and  attend  the  services  about  to  be 
held  in  their  honor.  Then  he  addresses  them  as  follows:  “I 
reverently  address  you,  spirits  of  those  fallen  in  this  war. 
We  pray  this  commemorative  service  will  impart  some  com- 
fort to  you,  brave  spirits  of  the  dead.  Your  glorious  deeds 
will  go  down  in  history,  and  our  nation  will  never  forget 
your  great  sacrifices.  Here  we  offer  you  our  deepest  grati- 
tude for  your  valiant  deeds  crowned  with  success.  Spirits 
above  us,  we  pray  you  draw  nigh  and  accept  our  grateful 
admiration.” 

Let  us  then  call  the  spirits  of  those  brave  young  men 
who  lost  their  lives  in  the  greatest  struggle  of  the  past  cen- 
tury. Let  us  welcome  them  to  this  beautiful  Campus  once 
more.  Let  us  show  them  these  grand  old  forest  trees  which 


they  loved  so  well.  Let  us  take  them  down  to  the  beech  trees 
and  show  them  that  time  has  obliterated  the  names  they  once 
carved  on  the  bark,  more  than  forty  years  ago.  But  let  us 
assure  them  that  their  names  and  their  deeds  are  indelibly 
carved  on  our  hearts,  and  that  we  will  always  hold  them  in 
grateful  remembrance. 


Alumni  Secretary 

Hon.  Bert  S.  Barteow,  ’93,  is  a native  of  Indiana.  At 
the  age  of  seven  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Butler  county, 
Ohio,  growing  up  on  the  farm  and  attending  regularly  the 
public  schools.  At  the  age  of  19  he  matriculated  at  Miami, 
spending  one  year  in  the  Academy  and  four  in  the  College  of 
Liberal  Arts.  In  June,  1893,  he  was  graduated  a bachelor  of 
arts,  with  special  honors  in  economics  and  political  science, 
to  which  subjects  he  gave  special  attention.  During  his  col- 
lege career  he  was  three  times  chosen  Washington’s  Birthday 
orator  by  the  Erodelphian  Literary  Society,  of  which  he  was 
an  active  member,  and  was  also  one  of  the  commencement 
orators  of  his  class.  For  two  years  he  was  manager  and 
editor  of  the  Miami  Student,  and  was  one  of  the  charter 
members  of  the  renewed  chapter  of  Delta  Kappa  Epsilon. 

For  several  years  subsequent  to  his  graduation  Mr.  Bart- 
low  was  engaged  in  journalism,  being  for  a time  editor  of  the 
Butler  County  Press  and  later  city  editor  of  the  Hamilton 
Evening  Sun.  From  1894  to  1898  he  served  as  chief  clerk  of 
the  Butler  County  board  of  deputy  state  supervisors  of  elec- 
tions. In  1897  he  was  nominated  and  elected  representative 
from  Butler  County  in  the  state  legislature,  winning  signal 
victories  at  both  primaries  and  polls.  Reelected  in  1899,  he 
held,  during  his  four  years  of  service,  membership  on  very 
important  committees  and  was  an  active  worker  in  the  com- 
mittee room  and  on  the  floor.  In  July,  1903,  and  again  two 
years  later,  he  was  appointed  by  the  Secretary  of  State  a 
member  of  the  Butler  County  board  of  supervisors  of  elections 
presiding  now  over  the  body  which  he  had  earlier  served  as 
chief  clerk.  Last  January  he  was  elected  Sergeant  at  Arms 
of  the  Ohio  Senate  for  the  77th  General  Assembly.  In  July 
he  assumed  the  duties  of  his  present  position  as  Alumni  and 
Field  Secretary  of  Miami  University. 

Mr.  Bartlow  is  member  of  various  fraternal  orders.  He 
was  editor  in  chief  of  the  Centennial  History  of  Butler  County, 
Ohio,  published  in  1905.  He  is  a member  of  the  first  Presby- 
terian Church  in  Hamilton,  where  he  resides.  His  office  is 
No.  418  Rentschler  Building,  Hamilton,  Ohio,  where  he  cor- 
dially solicits  correspondence  and  news  items  from  all  gradu- 
ates and  former  students  of  Old  Miami. 


